Combination Golf Stroke Counter and Ball Marker

ABSTRACT

A combination golf stroke counter and ball marker is a disk-shaped apparatus having a counter disk base and a removable magnetic marker disk. The magnetic marker disk is held within the counter disk base by a securing magnet which is held within a central cylindrical magnet holder protrusion that extends upwards from a circular trough within the counter disk base. The counter disk base displays a plurality of numeric characters arranged around a character display surface. The magnetic marker disk may be rotated to orient a stroke-count pointer on the magnetic marker disk to indicate one of the plurality of numeric characters, specifying a current stroke count. The magnetic marker disk may be removed by depressing one side of the magnetic marker disk into the circular trough, detaching the magnetic marker disk from the securing magnet in order to use the magnetic marker disk as a golf ball marker.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the game of golf. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for a stroke counter combined with a ball marker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sport generally encompasses all form of competitive physical activity which, through casual or organized participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability, and to provide entertainment to participants and spectators. Hundreds of sports exist, from those requiring only two participants to sports with hundreds of simultaneous participants, either in teams or participating as individuals. Sport is generally recognized as activities which are based in physical athleticism or physical dexterity, with the largest major competitions such as the Olympic Games admitting only sports meeting this definition. Sports are usually governed by a set of rules or customs, which serve to ensure fair competition, and allow consistent adjudication of the winner. Winning can be determined by physical events such as scoring goals or crossing a line first, or by the determination of judges who are scoring elements of the sporting performance, including objective or subjective measures such as technical performance or artistic impression.

Golf is a precision club and ball sport in which competing players, or golfers, use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on the golf course using the fewest number or strokes. Golf is defined, in the rules of golf, as “playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules.” Golf is one of the few ball games that does not require a standardized playing area. Instead, the game is played on a “course”, generally consisting of an arranged progression of either 9 or 18 “holes.” Each hole on the course must contain a “tee box” and a “putting green” with the actual hole, and each hole may utilize various other standardized forms of terrain in between the tee box and the putting green such as the fairway, rough, and hazards, but each hole on a course is unique in its specific layout and arrangement. Golf competition is generally played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual, known simply as stroke play, or the lowest score on the most individual holes during a complete round by an individual or team, known as match play. Since the number of strokes taken by a golfer to complete a hole is integral to scoring a round of golf, it is desirable to keep an accurate, updated record of the number of strokes taken for the hole. To this end, various types of stroke counters have been created and used in golf.

Sometimes a golfer may wish to remove their ball from the ground. This may happen when multiple golfers play the same hole simultaneously and alternate shots. A golfer may wish to remove their ball in order to avoid interference with the next golfer's shot. A golfer may also wish to remove their ball while playing a hole for other reasons, including taking a break or only having one ball available among multiple golfers. When this occurs, it is desirable to leave a ball marker at the location the ball was recovered from. Various items can be used as ball markers, but recommended objects are small, round items such as coins or items manufactured specifically for use as ball markers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that delivers the functionality of both a stroke counter and a ball marker. Combination stroke counter and ball markers have been created, but the present invention utilizes magnetism, minimizing the number of components necessary to function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention with the magnetic marker disk attached to the counter disk base.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the counter disk base.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the counter disk base.

FIG. 4 is a top exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention showing one side of the magnetic marker disk being pressed into the circular trough in order to remove or reposition the magnetic marker disk.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is a disk-shaped combination stroke counter and ball marker for the game of golf. The present invention comprises a counter disk base 1 and a magnetic marker disk 2. The magnetic marker disk 2 is removably attached to the counter disk base 1, and may be rotated to point to numbers on the counter disk base 1 to indicate a current stroke count in a manner similar to a dial. The magnetic marker disk 2 may be removed from the counter disk base 1 and laid on the ground to replace a golf ball and mark the spot the golf ball was removed from. The magnetic marker disk 2 is used on a putting green of one of the holes of a golf course to mark the spot a golf ball is removed from while the golfer picks up and cleans the ball before putting as allowed in the Rules of Golf. The counter disk base 1 is made from any suitable material, such as, but not limited to, plastic, or another polymer, metal or another rigid material. Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the counter disk base 1 comprises an outer base perimeter 11, a character display surface 12, a circular trough 13, a magnet holder protrusion 14, a securing magnet 15, a plurality of numeric characters 16, and a base bottom 17. The circular trough 13 comprises a trough wall 131.

The outer base perimeter 11, the character display surface 12, the circular trough 13, the magnet holder protrusion 14, and the securing magnet 15 are concentrically positioned with each other. The circular trough 13 encircles the magnet holder protrusion 14. The character display surface 12 encircles the circular trough 13. The outer base perimeter 11 encircles the character display surface 12. The securing magnet 15 is concentrically positioned within the magnet holder protrusion 14. The outer base perimeter 11 is the outermost edge of the present invention. The trough wall 131 is the vertical surface defining the furthest radial portion of the circular trough 13. The counter disk base 1 is shaped generally like a saucer. The base bottom 17, the lowermost portion of the counter disk base 1, has a similar or smaller diameter to the trough wall 131, with the lower surface of the counter disk base 1 gradually increasing in diameter to the outer base perimeter 11. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vertical distance from the lowermost point of the counter disk base 1 to the uppermost point of the counter disk base 1 is 0.275 inches, and the diameter of the outer base perimeter 11 is 1.625 inches. However, alternative embodiments may comprise different dimensions. The character display surface 12 is an area between the outer base perimeter 11 and the circular trough 13 upon which numbers, letters or other visual materials may be displayed. The magnet holder protrusion 14 is a hollow cylindrical protrusion extending upwards from the lowermost portion of the circular trough 13. The topmost portion of the magnet holder protrusion 14 is at the same vertical height as or slightly below the trough wall 131. The inside wall of the magnet holder protrusion 14 is ribbed in order to allow the securing magnet 15 to be securely placed within the magnet holder protrusion 14. The circular trough 13 is a moat-like depression in the counter disk base 1 that is concentrically positioned around the magnet holder protrusion 14. The securing magnet 15 is a solid disc-shaped magnet that is secured inside the magnet holder protrusion 14 and facilitates the attachment of the magnetic marker disk 2 to the counter disk base 1.

The plurality of numeric characters 16 is positioned on the character display surface 12 between the outer base perimeter 11 and the circular trough 13. The plurality of numeric characters 16 are equally spaced apart from each other, and are radially arranged around the character display surface 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of numeric character comprises only integers, and is arranged in series from 2 to 8. Preferably, the plurality of numeric characters 16 are raised from the character display surface 12 by 0.01 inches, though in alternate embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of numeric characters 16 may be displayed in the character display surface 12, such as, but not limited to, laser printing, ink printing, or debossing. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the character display surface 12 also displays the slogan “IN THE HOLE”.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4-5, the magnetic marker disk 2 comprises a stroke-count pointer 21, a marker perimeter 23 and a marker bottom 22. The magnetic marker disk 2 is substantially flat, made from a magnetic metal, and coated in an enamel covering. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stroke-count pointer 21 is a triangle. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the stroke-count pointer 21 is a dot, a line, an arrow, or another shape. The marker perimeter 23 is the radially outermost edge of the magnetic marker disk 2. The diameter of the marker perimeter 23 is approximately the same or slightly smaller than the diameter of the trough wall 131. The stroke-count marker 21 is oriented perpendicular to the marker perimeter 23, and is positioned adjacent to the marker perimeter 23 atop the magnetic marker disk 2. The stroke-count marker 21 specifies a location on the marker perimeter 23. The magnetic marker disk 2 may be rotated relative to the counter disk base 1 in order to indicate one of the plurality of numeric characters 16 on the character display surface 12 with the stroke-count marker 21 in order to specify a current stroke count.

The magnetic marker disk 2 is attached to the counter disk base 1 by placing the marker bottom 22 adjacent to the magnet. The magnetic marker disk 2 is held in place by the magnetic force between the securing magnet 15 and the magnetic marker disk 2. When the marker bottom 22 is magnetically engaged with the securing magnet 15, the marker perimeter 23 is concentrically adjacent to and encircled by the trough wall 131. As can be seen in FIG. 6, in order to remove the magnetic marker disk 2 from the counter disk base 1, a user presses down on the magnetic marker disk 2 at a location between the trough wall 131 and the magnet holder protrusion 14. The magnetic holder protrusion acts as a fulcrum, with the location the user presses on being pressed downward into the circular trough 13, and a location diametrically opposite the pressing location being lifted vertically away from the magnet holder protrusion 14, allowing the user to remove the magnetic marker disk 2 from the counter disk base 1. Performing the previously described action also allows the user to rotate the magnetic marker disk 2 so that the stroke-count pointer 21 indicates a different number in order to keep an updated record of current strokes taken for the hole.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pattern of circles is displayed atop the magnetic marker disk 2 to mimic the appearance of a golf ball. In addition, the slogan “IN THE HOLE” is also displayed atop the magnetic marker disk 2 in an area similar to the character display surface 12 of the counter disk base 1. However, these aspects are purely cosmetic.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination golf stroke counter and ball marker comprises: a counter disk base; a magnetic marker disk; the counter disk base comprises an outer base perimeter, a character display surface, a circular trough, a magnet holder protrusion, a securing magnet, and a plurality of numeric characters; the magnetic marker disk comprises a stroke-count pointer, a marker perimeter and a marker bottom; the circular trough comprises a trough wall; and the magnetic marker disk being removably attached to the counter disk base.
 2. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the outer base perimeter, the character display surface, the circular trough, the magnet holder protrusion, and the securing magnet being concentrically positioned with each other; the circular trough encircling the magnet holder protrusion; the character display surface encircling the circular trough; the outer base perimeter encircling the character display surface; and the securing magnet being concentrically positioned within the magnet holder protrusion.
 3. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the stroke-count pointer being oriented perpendicular to the marker perimeter; and the stroke-count pointer being positioned adjacent to the marker perimeter atop the magnetic marker disk, wherein the stroke-count pointer specifies a location on the marker perimeter; wherein the magnetic marker disk may be rotated relative to the counter disk base in order to point to one of the plurality of numeric characters on the character display surface.
 4. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the plurality of numeric characters being positioned on the character display surface between the outer base perimeter and the circular trough; the plurality of numeric characters being equally spaced apart from each other; and the plurality of numeric characters being concentrically arranged around the character display surface, wherein the plurality of numeric characters is arranged in series by integers from 2 to
 8. 5. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the marker bottom being magnetically engaged with the securing magnet, wherein the marker perimeter is concentrically adjacent to and encircled by the trough wall when the marker bottom is engaged with the securing magnet.
 6. A combination golf stroke counter and ball marker comprises: a counter disk base; a magnetic marker disk; the counter disk base comprises an outer base perimeter, a character display surface, a circular trough, a magnet holder protrusion, a securing magnet, and a plurality of numeric characters; the magnetic marker disk comprises a stroke-count pointer, a marker perimeter and a marker bottom; the circular trough comprises a trough wall; the magnetic marker disk being removably attached to the counter disk base; the plurality of numeric characters being positioned on the character display surface between the outer base perimeter and the circular trough; the plurality of numeric characters being equally spaced apart from each other; the plurality of numeric characters being concentrically arranged around the character display surface, wherein the plurality of numeric characters is arranged in series by integers from 2 to 8; and the marker bottom being magnetically engaged with the securing magnet, wherein the marker perimeter is concentrically adjacent to and encircled by the trough wall when the marker bottom is engaged with the securing magnet.
 7. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed in claim 6 comprises: the outer base perimeter, the character display surface, the circular trough, the magnet holder protrusion, and the securing magnet being concentrically positioned with each other; the circular trough encircling the magnet holder protrusion; the character display surface encircling the circular trough; the outer base perimeter encircling the character display surface; and the securing magnet being concentrically positioned within the magnet holder protrusion.
 8. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed in claim 6 comprises: the stroke-count pointer being oriented perpendicular to the marker perimeter; and the stroke-count pointer being positioned adjacent to the marker perimeter atop the magnetic marker disk, wherein the stroke-count pointer specifies a location on the marker perimeter; wherein the magnetic marker disk may be rotated relative to the counter disk base in order to point to one of the plurality of numeric characters on the character display surface.
 9. A combination golf stroke counter and ball marker comprises: a counter disk base; a magnetic marker disk; the counter disk base comprises an outer base perimeter, a character display surface, a circular trough, a magnet holder protrusion, a securing magnet, and a plurality of numeric characters; the magnetic marker disk comprises a stroke-count pointer, a marker perimeter and a marker bottom; the circular trough comprises a trough wall; the magnetic marker disk being removably attached to the counter disk base; the outer base perimeter, the character display surface, the circular trough, the magnet holder protrusion, and the securing magnet being concentrically positioned with each other; the circular trough encircling the magnet holder protrusion; the character display surface encircling the circular trough; the outer base perimeter encircling the character display surface; the securing magnet being concentrically positioned within the magnet holder protrusion; the stroke-count pointer being oriented perpendicular to the marker perimeter; the stroke-count pointer being positioned adjacent to the marker perimeter atop the magnetic marker disk, wherein the stroke-count pointer specifies a location on the marker perimeter; and wherein the magnetic marker disk may be rotated relative to the counter disk base in order to point to one of the plurality of numeric characters on the character display surface.
 10. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed in claim 9 comprises: the plurality of numeric characters being positioned on the character display surface between the outer base perimeter and the circular trough; the plurality of numeric characters being equally spaced apart from each other; and the plurality of numeric characters being concentrically arranged around the character display surface, wherein the plurality of numeric characters is arranged in series by integers from 2 to
 8. 11. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed in claim 9 comprises: the marker bottom being magnetically engaged with the securing magnet, wherein the marker perimeter is concentrically adjacent to and encircled by the trough wall when the marker bottom is engaged with the securing magnet. 